The mindset in postmodernism is that objective truth does not exist. But in post-truth, the person believes that objective truth exists, but they subordinate truth to their preferences, or their comfort. In other words, one doesn’t care that truth exists or what the truth is if it doesn’t line up with one’s preferences. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. Faith in Jesus Christ is our response to God's elective purpose in our life. These two truths–God's initiative and man's response–co-exist throughout the Bible. The gospel is "the message of truth" because truth is its predominant characteristic. Salvation was conceived by the God of truth (Ps. 31:5); purchased by the Son, who is the truth (John 14:6); and is applied by the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). To know it is to know the truth that sets men free (John 8:32). Believers are people of the truth (John 18:37), who worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), and who obey the Word of truth (John 17:17). People have rejected, neglected, redefined, and opposed God’s truth for centuries. Some cynically deny that truth even exists or that it can be known by men (John 18:38). Others foolishly think that denying truth will somehow make it go away. Truth determines the validity of one's belief. Believing a lie doesn't make it true. Conversely, failing to believe the truth doesn't make it a lie. The gospel is true because Jesus is true, not simply because Christians believe in Him. His resurrection proved the truth of His claims and constitutes the objective basis of our faith (Rom. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:3). Truth is our protection and strength (Eph. 6:14). Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ is merely a satanic counterfeit of the truth. At the heart of every false religion is the notion that man can come to God by any means he chooses–by meditating, doing good deeds, and so on. But Scripture says, "There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus Christ, and we come to Him by confessing and repenting of our sin, trusting in His atoning death on the cross, and affirming His bodily resurrection from the grave (cf. Rom. 10:9-10). There is no other way to God. False religious leaders and teachers talk much about God’s love, but not His wrath and holiness; much about how deprived of good things people are, but not about their depravity; much about God’s universal fatherhood toward everyone, but not much about his unique fatherhood toward all who believe in His Son; much about what God wants to give to us, but nothing about the necessity of obedience to Him; much about health and happiness, but nothing about holiness and sacrifice. Their message is full of gaps, the greatest of which leaves out a biblical worldview of the saving gospel and replaces it with the worldview of postmodernism with its dominant ethical system of relativism. The Bible describes mankind in the end times: “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). Spiritual answers cannot be deduced by human reason alone (1 Cor. 2:14). It’s not that spiritual truth is irrational or illogical, but that human wisdom is defective, because it’s tainted by man’s sinfulness, and unable to perceive the things of God. That is why the Bible is so important. It gives us the answers we can’t find on our own. It is God’s Word to mankind. Scripture is divinely revealed truth that fills the vacuum of spiritual ignorance in all of us. Post-truth is the word of the year for 2016 and also the philosophy of the day, According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. In a “post-truth” world, people make choices based on emotion and experience rather than objective fact. So in a post-truth world, truth is irrelevant. What exactly is a post-truth culture? It’s a culture where truth is no longer an objective reality. It has become subjective. It’s what’s true for me—my beliefs, my opinions, determine my truth. So in our post-truth culture, man determines truth. Man makes himself the ultimate authority. This starting point, which rejects God’s Word and the idea of moral absolutes, makes truth subjective. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Christianity is grounded in objective truth. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Objective truth exists because we have God’s Word. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Thy word is truth” (John 17:17), and Paul and James describe the Bible as “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18). The Psalmist says, “The entirety of your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). Jesus Himself said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). When Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6), He wasn’t expressing His personal belief or opinion. He was speaking the truth, a fundamental reality that doesn’t change from person to person. It doesn’t matter if our culture thinks all roads lead to God. The truth of the matter is “no one comes to the Father but by [Jesus].” This blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell

Christian Biblical Counsel: JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

“They go door to door, proclaiming a curious message of doom, in hope that their hard work will earn them eternal life on earth.”

—Joe Hewitt (former Jehovah’s Witness)

I.Definition

A. What Is the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

• The Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses is a religious organization that witnesses to others by distributing Watchtower publications door to door and by evangelizing with three primary messages …

—that Jehovah alone is God, not the Trinity

—that governments and other organized religions are corrupt

—that the end of the world is imminent

• This religion was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by its first President, Charles Taze Russell, whose followers were called “Russellites.”

• It was incorporated in 1884 and operated under the name Zion’s Watch Tower Society until 1931, at which time Watchtower Bible and Tract Society became the official title. (Since 1931, followers are referred to as Jehovah’s Witnesses.)

• From 1955 to 2000, the main legal entity of the corporation was the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. In 2000 the Society completely reorganized its operations into three related nonprofit organizations: The Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Religious Order of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Kingdom Support Services, Inc. Since 1931, the society has adopted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses for their followers. With headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, the movement is seen as the only organization on earth through which God works and speaks.6

B. Who Was the Founding Father?

• The founding father of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916).

— He was an uneducated Congregationalist who rejected the biblical doctrine of hell and eternal punishment.

— He became associated with Second Adventists but rejected the biblical doctrine of Christ’s visible return.

— He became “Pastor” of a Bible study group although he was never ordained.

— He was seen by his followers as God’s sole dispenser of truth.

— He “above all others” was given the sole position of the “wise and faithful servant” of Matthew 24:45.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

(Matthew 24:45–47)

The Founding Father’s Controversies in Court

• In 1879 Charles Russell married Maria Ackley, who was for years a devoted Watchtower worker. But in 1897, she separated from him. After much litigation, Mrs. Russell’s claims for alimony were settled in 1909 with the payment of $6,036.

• Charles Russell sold “miracle wheat seeds,” claiming they produced five times more than any other seeds. When this claim was challenged, he sued the Brooklyn Daily Eagle for libel. In January, 1913, not only did he lose the libel suit, but his miracle wheat also was proven inferior—not five times superior.

• A Canadian pastor published a pamphlet against Charles Russell and his deviant doctrines. As a result, Russell sued Reverend J. J. Ross for libel. On the witness stand, Russell testified to knowing the Greek alphabet. Under further cross-examination, Russell admitted that he “might make a mistake on some of them” and then finally testified that he was not familiar with the Greek language (Russell v. Ross, 1913).

All the moral and legal rulings against the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses cast a dark shadow on the credibility of Charles Russell and his new religion. This founder in no way meets the biblical standards of a church leader as “above reproach.”

“The overseer must be above reproach … self-controlled, respectable … not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well.… (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) … He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace.”

(1 Timothy 3:2–7)

C. What Are Their Publications?

• Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence—first published in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell and later became known as The Watchtower

• The Watchtower—a magazine used to instruct the public in Jehovah’s Witnesses doctrines

• Awake!—a periodical used to introduce Jehovah’s Witnesses to the public

• The New World Translation—the Watchtower’s own translation of the Bible, containing numerous mistranslations to support the Society’s doctrines

For example, sincere Jehovah’s Witnesses seek to explain John 1:1 by saying that the correct translation is found in the New World Translation: “In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” This is an inaccurate translation based on a misunderstanding of Greek grammar.

D. What Terminology Is Used by Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Disfellowshipping or Shunning

Punishment for disobedience of Watchtower rules and regulations resulting in excommunication. Baptized members who are disfellowshipped are no longer allowed to talk with current members—including in most cases even family members.

Faithful and Wise Servant (Matthew 24:45)

Originally referring to Charles Taze Russell, now referring to the remnant of the 144,000 or “anointed class”/“Little Flock” including the “Governing Body” of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Faithful and Discreet Slave

Another term for the “Faithful and Wise Servant.”

Great Crowd

The great crowd are the non-anointed faithful, including those who survive Armageddon. These are also known as the “other sheep,” and they make up the vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses who will not live in heaven but hope to be able to inhabit the restored “Paradise Earth.”

Governing Body

A group of fewer than 25 men of the anointed class or “Faithful and Discreet Slave” who historically established the Watchtower’s policies and beliefs and direct its publications.

Jehovah

The only true name for God. (The Trinity is considered a false doctrine.)

Kingdom Hall

The local meeting place where Jehovah’s Witnesses receive instruction.

“Little Flock” Anointed Class Heavenly Class

The elite group of 144,000 who will live in heaven and reign with Christ. This group is believed to be the Spiritual Israel as the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments are being fulfilled through them.

Memorial Meal

One large, annual meeting scheduled at Passover time (Nisan 14 of the Jewish calendar), which is the only time the Lord’s Supper is observed. Only the remnant of the 144,000 “anointed” can partake of the bread and wine—currently fewer than 9,000.

The Society

The informal name Jehovah’s Witnesses use for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WTBS), which is directed by the “Governing Body.”

The Truth

Knowledge available only to Jehovah’s Witnesses and learned only through The Watchtower.

Spiritual Israel

All of the 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Heavenly Class, which first began among Jesus’ disciples. That number was completed in the 1930s. The acting president announced that the enlightenment he received from Jehovah was that “other sheep” that were “not of this fold” would be candidates to inherit “Paradise Earth,” provided they remain faithful and “come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation.”

II.Characteristics

A. Doctrinal Beliefs That Vary from Orthodox Christianity

Virgin Birth

“The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Jehovah’s Witnesses admit that Jesus was born of a virgin, but maintain He is not God. Jesus was born by God’s holy power. (They believe that the Holy Spirit is an active force, not a member of the Trinity.)

Atonement

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Jehovah’s Witnesses admit the penalty for sin was paid by Christ’s blood, but salvation is not by grace alone. It must be accompanied by good works, Bible study, witnessing, and association with the Watchtower. “A person’s final salvation is not determined at the moment that he begins to put faith in Jesus.”20

Resurrection

“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39)

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead in His physical body. He was recreated as a spirit that appeared to the disciples in a number of bodily forms. He continued to maintain His original identity, Michael the Archangel.22

Incarnation

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?” (Hebrews 1:1–5)

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God. Instead, He was a created being who is actually Michael the Archangel.

Eschatology

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)

Since its inception, this organization has taught that Armageddon has always been imminent—just around the corner. Although many prophetic dates were announced, these dates have come and gone with the years. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus will return in bodily form, but that He already returned in 1914 in invisible form and is ruling as King on earth through the Watchtower Society. They do not believe in the existence of an eternal hell. At death, every person is annihilated, except for the 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses who go to heaven and the other obedient sheep who remain in “soul sleep” until they inhabit “Paradise Earth.” Non-Jehovah’s Witnesses and the disloyal Jehovah’s Witnesses will be annihilated into eternal, unconscious soul sleep.25

Scripture

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18–19)

Jehovah’s Witnesses admit that the Bible is the Word of God, but they claim all orthodox translations are distorted. Thus, they have their own Bible, the New World Translation of Holy Scripture, which they declare to be the only reliable version. It contains approximately 300 mistranslations to support their doctrine. They do not believe the Bible is a sufficient source of authority for Christian doctrine and practice apart from the Watchtower publications.27

B. Forbidden Practices Based on Beliefs

•Viewed as idolatrous …

— belonging to any political party

— holding an elected office

— pledging allegiance to the flag

— serving jury duty

— serving in the military

— singing the national anthem

— voting in elections

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that when Satan offered Jesus control of the governments of the world, he had authority over those governments. Yet Romans chapter 13 states that the governing authorities have been established by God Himself.

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

(Romans 13:1–2)

•Viewed as corrupt …

— associating with disfellowshipped Jehovah’s Witnesses, even close relatives

— attending church services not conducted by Jehovah’s Witnesses

— joining the YMCA/YWCA

— close associations with Christians or other false worshippers except for the purpose of winning them over

•Viewed as pagan …

— celebrating birthdays

— celebrating holidays (for instance, Christmas, New Year’s Day)

— celebrating Mother’s or Father’s Day

•Viewed as eating blood …

— giving or receiving blood transfusions

III.Causes

Question: “What would cause people to be attracted to the Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

Answer: Their appeal is made to the fear that is in the human heart!

Fear

Fear

Jehovah’s Witnesses are living under the cloud of impending doom and destruction. According to their history, they predicted the end of the world would occur in 1914, in 1918, in 1925, and in 1975.

Exclusivity

Only the Jehovah’s Witnesses have “The Truth,” and only those in right relationship to the organization will be permitted to have eternal life.

Achievement

Eternal life is not a free gift of God’s grace, but must be earned through faith and good works.

Respect

Jehovah’s Witnesses seem to have authoritative answers to life’s problems, and their zealous desire for evangelism gains the admiration of those who are searching for truth.

A. Root Cause

Wrong Belief:

“My only hope of attaining eternal security on ‘Paradise Earth’ is by diligently obeying the teachings and doctrines of the Watchtower organization.”

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

“Thomas said to him [Jesus], ‘My Lord and my God!’ ”

(John 20:28)

IV.Steps to Solution

A. Key Verse to Memorize

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

(1 John 5:13)

B. Key Passage to Read and Reread

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.”

(John 17:20–25)

C. Is Jesus God?

Most critics assume that Jesus never claimed to be God. They also assume that the New Testament writers never claimed that Jesus is God. For accurate interpretation, a student of the Bible must look at the whole counsel of God—at Scripture in context of the whole. For example, the first words in Genesis state, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Since God was the Creator and since Colossians 1:15–17 presents that Christ created all things, the relationship between God and Jesus must be that of equality. Jesus Christ must be God.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours.” (2 Peter 1:1)

• Thomas refers to Jesus as “My Lord and my God.”

“Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28)

• John refers to Jesus as “the Word” and as “God.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

• Jesus even says that He and God the Father are one.

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)

• In Hebrews, Jesus is called “God.”

“But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’ ” (Hebrews 1:8)

• In the Epistle of 1 John, Jesus is called “the true God and eternal life.”

“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

• In Philippians, Jesus is described as “in very nature God.”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:5–6)

• In Colossians, Jesus is fully God with “all the fullness of Diety.”

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9–10)

• In the Gospel of John, Jesus is called the great “I AM.” (See Exodus 3:14.)

“Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!” (Romans 9:5)

D. Corrections for Their Claims

Witnesses Claim:

Jesus is not God.

Biblical Correction:

The apostle Thomas (known as “doubting Thomas”) called Jesus “God.”

“The other disciples told him [Thomas], ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’ … He [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:25–28)

Witnesses Claim:

The Holy Spirit is not God.

Biblical Correction:

The apostle Peter called the Holy Spirit “God.”

“Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.’ ” (Acts 5:3–4)

Witnesses Claim:

The word Trinity isn’t found in the Bible.

Biblical Correction:

That is correct … neither are words such as discipleship, missions, rapture, and the Old and New Testaments. Likewise, important Jehovah’s Witness terms like Theocratic, Pioneer, Governing Body, and Disfellowship are not found in the Bible—including the New World Translation. The lack of these specific words in the Bible doesn’t necessarily mean that they are unbiblical. For example, the Trinity is presumed in Matthew 28:19.

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Witnesses Claim:

Jesus is less than the Father according to the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:3, “The head of Christ is God.”

Biblical Correction:

When on earth, Jesus submitted to the Father. When in heaven, Jesus was equal to the Father. Jesus is equal to God the Father in nature, glory, and honor. The apostle Paul also said,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:5–6)

Witnesses Claim:

Jesus did not rise bodily from the grave; instead He was a vapor.

Biblical Correction:

Jesus Christ was raised bodily from the grave.

“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I [Jesus] myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39)

Witnesses Claim:

For the unrighteous who reject Jehovah, no eternal torment in hell exists, only physical annihilation.

Biblical Correction:

The doctrine of eternal punishment in hell is clearly taught in numerous places throughout the Bible. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus clearly states,

“In hell, where he [the rich man] was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ ” (Luke 16:23–24)

Witnesses Claim:

Jesus is not to be worshiped.

Biblical Correction:

Jesus was worshiped and is to be worshiped.

“On coming to the house, they [the Magi] saw the child [Jesus] with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Having just seen Jesus empower Peter to walk on water, the disciples who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying,

“Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33)

E. What Is the Truth about the Trinity?

Jehovah’s Witnesses mistakenly believe that the doctrine of the trinity is actually the worship of three gods (tri-theism). The truth is that the Bible proclaims in many passages that there is only one true God (monotheism).

“We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.”

(Romans 3:28–30)

If, indeed, there is only one God, then why was the Trinitarian position such a bedrock belief in the early church? And why has the doctrine of the Trinity been tenaciously taught throughout the centuries within churches that hold to Biblical inerrancy?

• Consider this: The Bible teaches that within the one true God, three coequal, coeternal persons exist: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

— The Father is called God.

“There is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)

— The Son is called God.

“But about the Son he [God] says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’ ” (Hebrews 1:8)

— The Holy Spirit is called God.

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.’ ” (Acts 5:3–4)

• Consider this: The Bible presents the attributes of deity for each person of the Trinity—attributes that can be assigned only to God.

— Omnipotence (all-powerful)

a. The Father

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

b. The Son

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power.” (John 13:3)

c. The Holy Spirit

“The power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.” (Romans 15:19)

— Omniscience (all-knowing)

a. The Father

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33)

b. The Son

“Now we can see that you [Jesus] know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions.” (John 16:30)

c. The Holy Spirit

“God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10)

— Omnipresence (everywhere present)

a. The Father

“ ‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23–24)

b. The Son

“Surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

c. The Holy Spirit

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” (Psalm 139:7–8)

Question: “How can the Trinity be illustrated?”

Answer: An analogy describing daylight could be used. Scientifically, light is comprised of the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Each color is separate, but when blended together they make “white light” or daylight, and they function as one. Similarly, each person of the Trinity is a separate and distinct person, but together they constitute the Trinity and function as One.

F. The ABC’s of Witnessing to the Witnesses!

Assume they are sincere.

“For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” (Romans 10:2)

Be compassionate and loving.

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” (Mark 6:34)

Call them by name.

“The lips of the righteous know what is fitting.” (Proverbs 10:32)

Don’t slam the door in their faces.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Explain how you know that you have received eternal life through Christ.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

Focus on the prophecies that discredit the Watchtower as a “False Prophet.” (See next page.)

“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.… If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.” (Deuteronomy 18:20, 22)

Give them copies of their own materials that document the errors.

“Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:25)

“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” (Proverbs 19:2)

Have appropriate tracts available for them.

“In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Impart pertinent Scripture but be prepared for them to change the meaning.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Illustration:

To show that Jesus is Jehovah, the Lord Almighty

• “Who is referred to in Isaiah 44:6?”

(The Lord Almighty is the first and the last.)

• “And who is referred to in Revelation 1:5–8?”

(Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.)

• “Do you see that the truth of God’s Holy Word clearly shows Jesus is the Lord Almighty?”

1889 Battle of Armageddon will end in 1914. (Studies in Scriptures, Vol. 2, 76–7, 99, 101)

1914 THE WORLD DOES NOT END WITH ARMAGEDDON! (See prediction in 1889.). The Society later changes the prediction. They began to predict that 1914 began the “Last Generation” and that some of those alive in 1914 would live long enough to survive Armageddon and live forever on a paradise earth. (The Watchtower, May 1, 1967, 262)

1917 God will destroy “the churches wholesale and church members by millions” in 1918. (Studies in Scriptures, Vol. 7, 485)

1918 CHURCHES ARE NOT DESTROYED! (See prediction in 1917.)

1920 Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the faithful prophets of old.…” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 89–90)

1924 “The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures.…” (The Watchtower, July 15, 1924, 211)

1925 ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB DO NOT RETURN! (See prediction in 1920.)

1938 Because the end is so near, Jehovah’s Witnesses are advised to wait until after Armageddon to marry and rear children. (The Watchtower, November 1, 1938, 323–4)

1941 Armageddon is said to be only months away. (The Watchtower, September 15, 1941, 288)

1942 Abraham and “those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now.” (The New World, 104)

1943 The end of “Six Thousand Years of Human History” is mathematically shown to be 1972. (The Truth Shall Make You Free, 152)

1966 “Six Thousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975 …” followed by the millennial reign of Christ. (Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, 29–30)

1972 SIX THOUSAND YEARS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE DOES NOT END! (See prediction in 1943.)

1975 SIX THOUSAND YEARS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE DOES NOT END! (See prediction in 1966.)

1988 Jehovah’s Witnesses are reminded “Most of the generation of 1914 has passed away.” The generation will not pass all away until the end! (Awake!, April 8, 1988, 14) (See prediction in 1914.)

1989 The year 2000 marks the completion of Christian missionary work and the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ. “The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century.” (The Watchtower, January 1, 1989, 12)

Note: this was quietly altered in the bound volume and CD-ROM editions to read “in our day.”

1995 The Watchtower changes the “Creator’s promise.” The word “generation” is no longer based on a human life span. (Compare Awake! mastheads before October 22, 1995, 4 and after November 8, 1995, 4 to see how the “Creator’s promise” was altered. See also The Watchtower November 1, 1995, 16–20.) (See prediction 1914.)

The Great Tribulation is now declared to be Imminent. (The Watchtower, November 1, 1995, p. 19 par. 12 and p. 20 par. 15)

2000 THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY. (See prediction 1989.)

2007 The Anointed Class now declared to be open to any Jehovah’s Witness who “has determined in his heart that he is now anointed and begins to partake of the emblems at the Memorial. (“Questions from Readers,” The Watchtower, May 1, 2007, 30–31)

The number 144,000 is no longer taken literally, but symbolically for all those who claim to be “anointed ones.”

1877 At age 25, Russell and Barbour publish a book called Three Worlds or Plan of Redemption. This book proclaims that three years prior, in 1874, the second coming of Christ occurred invisibly. From that time a 40 year harvest period would occur, culminating in 1914 with the Battle of Armageddon.

1879 At age 27, having parted company with Barbour over theological grounds, Russell founds his new publication, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.

Thirty congregations exist in several states, each calling Russell “Pastor.”

1884 At age 32 Russell incorporates his new religious order in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It operates for 47 years as Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society.

1886 At age 34 Russell writes the first volume of his commentary on the Bible, Studies in the Scriptures.

1916 At age 64, Charles Taze Russell dies.

Joseph Franklin Rutherford becomes president of the Society. Under Rutherford’s leadership, the Society takes most authority away from the local congregations and becomes God’s sole dispenser of truth, making all policy decisions.

1931 The official title of the organization becomes the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

The Society adopts the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

1942 Rutherford dies. Nathan Knorr becomes president of the Society.

Under Knorr’s leadership the Society increases from 115,000 to over 2 million members. The Governing Body is established under Knorr’s leadership. The Watchtower begins to publish all Jehovah’s Witnesses literature anonymously, unlike in Russell and Rutherford’s days.

1961 The Watchtower publishes the first edition of its own English version of the Bible, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

1975 The failed Watchtower prediction that the 6,000 years of human existence would end in 1975 shakes the faith of many Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Yet, 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The most significant word in sharing with a Witness is peace—the peace you have because you know your salvation is secure. The power of your peace can draw a Witness to the Prince of Peace, the living Lord Jesus.